Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 1534 results

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Erskine White

... the Christ Child and His mother - they're not paying much attention to me. Even the shepherds and Wise Men (and a little drummer boy who wasn't even there) had pretty Christmas carols written about them, but not me! I truly am the forgotten person in the story. My name is Joseph; I am the father of Jesus. Well, not exactly, I'm more like His stepfather, since Jesus wasn't conceived in the usual way, which took quite some getting used to on my part, not to mention Mary's! But more on that in a minute. First ...

2. Proper 15

Genesis 45:1-28, Matthew 15:21-28, Romans 11:1-10, Romans 11:25-32, Psalm 133:1-3

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... that have befallen him, while Psalm 133 celebrates kinship. Genesis 45:4-20 - "The Power of the Promise" Setting. Scholars have long since noted how different in character the Joseph stories are from the other ancestral stories. The sharpest point of contrast is the absence of God as a central character in the Joseph stories. God does not appear as a visitor at mealtime, does not talk directly to people, and does not control the direction of events through supernatural intervention. Instead, the scope ...

3. Proper 14

Genesis 37:1-11, Matthew 14:22-36, Romans 9:30--10:21, Psalm 105:1-45

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... choose to do so. A letter of invitation might say something like, "It is our practice here for the sermon to be based on one or more of the lessons for the day. On August 8 the lessons will be as follows: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-36 (the story of young Joseph's struggle with his brothers and how they sold him into slavery); Romans 10:5-15 (Paul's great affirmation that salvation is for everybody); and Matthew 14:22-33 (Peter walking on the water). Please let us know if you would like to use one of these, or ...

4. The Fruit of Forgiveness

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... to be the occasion for speaking the peace of God as forgiveness and reconciliation between sinners, who understand the power and the effect of God’s gracious acceptance of us as a means of accepting one another. More Than A Kiss However, this excellent story about Joseph and his brothers is retold to tell us much more than just about the kiss of peace or reconciliation. The account covers some fourteen chapters of the book of Genesis. That is almost a fourth of the book. Obviously, its major intent is to ...

5. The Family

Genesis 37:1-36

Sermon

Will Willimon

... in pain, Jacob wailing to heaven, grieving over his supposedly dead, beloved, favored son. They tried to comfort him but no, Jacob said he would go to Hell weeping for Joseph. The pain that those brothers' lies inflicted on their father! Thus the first chapter of the Joseph story ends with the brothers dumbly watching their father grieve in torment and Joseph on his way to slavery in Egypt. Things may yet somehow turn out for this family, this troubled family, but we don't know that yet. All we have for ...

6. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... natural way. Consuming the unclean Babylonian food and drink is defiling and unhealthy; eating that which God allows leads to better health. The Hebrew phrase rendered by the NIV “better nourished” actually means “fatter of flesh.” A similar phrase is used in the Joseph story for the seven “fat” cows in Pharaoh’s dream (Gen. 41:2). While their healthy appearance does not win others over to their side to try their diet, it does win them the right to continue with it: the guard took away their ...

7. The Day Life Increased

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... again, and says, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God." Then these famous words. "As for you, you meant it for evil; but God meant it for good." There you have it. Matthew wants you to think of the Joseph story when you think of the Resurrection. He wants you to remember this. "You meant it for evil; but God meant it for good." The Resurrection is God's answer to the evil of the cross. God met the worse that we could do with the very best that we could ...

8. You Meant Evil; God Meant Good

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... plot. Maybe it is all a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing! How will I get through the next chapter? How can I even turn the next page? We go back to the Bible story. As important as the Joseph story is, it isn't our touchstone. Our master story is the Jesus story. He went into the abyss, into the darkness. He prayed in the garden, "Remove this cup." He cried out on the cross, "Why have you forsaken me?" Still, he surrendered to God's will, he was obedient unto death, he ...

9. Daniel Interprets the Dream

Daniel 2:24-49

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... that he can interpret his dream for him (2:24). Arioch does indeed bring Daniel to the king, introducing him as someone he found from among the exiles of Judah who can tell the king what his dream means (2:25). This calls to mind the story of Joseph, who is simply one of the Hebrews; he is brought before Pharaoh because he can interpret dreams. It also brings to mind the Qumran text Prayer of Nabonidus. In that text, the ailing Babylonian king discovers a Jewish diviner who helps him to acknowledge God and ...

10. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Genesis 39:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... to live with strangers, and purchased off the trading block and is now dwelling in a foreign country? Joseph has two things going for him. First, the Lord is with him. Joseph may not know this—at least not yet, for although the Lord is with Joseph, the Lord does not keep Joseph out of trouble and danger. This is the only chapter in the Joseph story (excluding chaps. 38 and 49, where Joseph is either absent or minimally present), where “Lord” appears, and it appears seven times, all by the narrator ...

11. Your Faith Has Made You Well

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... It’s a common phrase. And her “sleep” (the mask that appears to be death but is not) is removed, and her life is revealed! She is revealed to be alive. And Jesus’ identity as the true Son of God is also revealed! Similar to the Joseph story, the family, who witnesses the event, now realize who Jesus actually is! And are astounded! The “mask” has been removed. She is not a ghost, for Jesus instructs her parents (as he will do in his own post resurrection appearance), to give her something to eat ...

12. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Daniel 2:1-23

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... , but they and their gods are powerless to bring it about. However, the one true God is able to change times and seasons (cf. also 7:12 and 25), because he is sovereign and all-powerful. 2:12 The wise men of Babylon (khakkime babel) is another parallel with the Joseph story, which uses the same Hebrew root to refer to Egypt’s wise men (khakameha [Gen. 41:8]). 2:14 The name Arioch occurs in Gen. 14:1, 9 for the king of Ellasar and in Jdt. 1:6 for the king of the Elymeans. It was once thought to have ...

13. Judah and Tamar

Genesis 38:1-30

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Judah and Tamar: The account of Judah and Tamar is set as an interlude in the Joseph narrative. It adds to the suspense of the Joseph story, as the reader wonders what is going to happen to Joseph. The action takes place in four scenes: the failure of Judah’s sons to have an heir (vv. 1–11), Judah’s relationship with a supposed prostitute (vv. 12–23), Tamar’s vindication (vv. 24–26), and Tamar’s bearing twins (vv. 27–30). Although this account appears to interrupt ...

14. Nebuchadnezzer’s Dream of a Tree

Daniel 4:1-18

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... the book, the Babylonian advisers deny that the gods dwell with humans (2:11), but Daniel proves them wrong. The king remembers this and is confident that the Jewish sage will come through again. Daniel 4 is reminiscent of the Joseph story, where after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph is described as “one in whom is the spirit of God” (Gen. 41:38). (See the Additional Note on 4:8.) The dream account is found in verses 10–17, but it is sandwiched between introductory and concluding elements. The ...

15. Joseph in Charge of Egypt

Genesis 41:41-57

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... to Power: Clothing, a motif throughout the Joseph story, plays a particularly prominent role in this account; it marks Joseph’s transition from prison to the honor of standing before Pharaoh and then his investiture with authority. In this account we read about Pharaoh’s dreams (vv. 1–7), his need for an interpreter (vv. 8–16), Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams (vv. 17–32), his counsel to Pharaoh concerning the coming crisis (vv. 33–38), Joseph’s installation into office (vv. 39–45 ...

16. Pharaoh's Dreams

Genesis 41:1-40

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

17. In Praise of the Lord of History: From Abraham to the Settlement in the Land

Psalm 105:1-45

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... we see that Yahweh can fulfill a promise that his people have no power in themselves to accomplish, and that suffering in itself does not necessarily lie outside God’s purpose. It is interesting to compare the treatment of the Abrahamic covenant, the Joseph story, and the plagues in Genesis–Joshua with that in Psalm 105. The substance of the Abrahamic covenant is abridged to the promise of the land of Canaan (v. 11). In Genesis, Abraham is called a “prophet” (20:7) and a “prince” (23:6), but ...

18. True Wisdom

Eulogy

Joe Barone

... . The resurrection had already occurred, but she's like us, and so she's crying. True wisdom. It's easy to talk about true wisdom when things are going well. It's easy to look at stories such as the Joseph story and to see how everything that happened to Joseph - even when his brothers tried to kill him - finally turned out well because Joseph trusted in the Living God; he had true wisdom. It's easy to say, as the writer says in Proverbs, that if we cry out for insight we will find the fear of God. But for ...

19. Jacob and Esau

Genesis 25:19-34

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... The Birth and Early Rivalry of Esau and Jacob: The next patriarchal narrative, that of Jacob (25:19–36:43), extends from Jacob’s birth to Esau’s lineage. (See the Introduction for an overview of the Jacob narrative as a whole and its relationship to the Joseph story.) Three incidents set the stage for the drama of Jacob’s life: the struggle of Jacob and Esau in the womb and at birth (vv. 19–26), a brief portrait of the two boys (vv. 27–28), and Jacob’s stealing the birthright from Esau (vv. 29 ...

20. Trouble in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... up in the very same way. Our entire system of judgment (the way we look at others and measure others’ worth) relies upon the way we understand “worth.” Jesus’ vineyard story is the Cain and Abel story all over again. It’s the Jonah story all over again. It’s the Joseph story all over again. Again and again in the scriptures, we see stories of jealousy, envy, anger, and shouts of unfairness in regard to the way God grants love, favor, and mercy upon those we feel should not deserve it. And we all ...

21. Advancement is Meaningless

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... the following verses undercut the claim of value. Like other concepts that Qohelet has examined, wisdom is of only relative worth. Interpreters debate whether these verses reflect a situation in Israel’s history (such as the Joseph story) or one contemporaneous with Qohelet. Some assert that the story is strictly fictional. Even the events narrated are unclear. Does the poor but wise youth supplant or become the old but foolish king, or do the two exemplify two extreme possibilities? Is the successor of 4 ...

22. Trust in Me

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... voice” that speaks to us beyond the limits of our left brain. The voice of love comes from far beyond our lobes. “Trust, but verify” it was famously said. “Trust, but codify & versify” the church seems to say. This Advent season the gospel says in the story of Joseph: Trust, but glorify God and storify love. If the message is not one of love, if our intuition is not leading us into deeper paths of love and grace, then it’s not God’s guidance. Do you think you’re too old for the impossible ...

23. Faithful To The Lord

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... ." "Can you summarize them for me?" asked the Sunday school teacher. "Sure," said the little girl, "Noah's wife was Joan of Arc and Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night." It's good that we study the Old Testament story of Joseph to get the historical details straight, but there is much more than history here. The Word of God is here for us if we have the eyes to see it and the ears to hear it. That Word has to do with faithfulness. As interesting as the conspiracy of ...

24. The New Moses

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... and, not unreasonably, assumed that, since there were three gifts there must have been three wise men. They are most definitely not kings, however. They are Magi — wise men — from which we get the word “magic” and “magician.”) One of the men in this story, Joseph, is humble, a laborer who is poor and supports his family from day to day by the sweat of his brow. He is probably illiterate, a Jew who follows the dictates of his religion as best he can, given his circumstances. The second man ...

25. Family Survival

Genesis 37:1-11

Sermon

Stephen DeFur

... arrogant, would-be ruler." "Let's kill him and throw him into one of those cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams," verse 20. Now, notice this . . . It's a very important part of the story. Joseph's brothers have a very legitimate grievance. They have a legitimate complaint. They have been denied a father's undivided love. They have a very real hole in their heart. They have not received the kind of love from a father that they needed to receive, but ...

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